Make-and-break ignition device



M. MURRAY.

MAKE-AND-BREAK IGNITION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED (JCT. 28, 1920. RENEWED APR. 10. 1922.

' 1,423,137. Patented July 18, 1922..

WITNE88E8 INI/E/VTUR A TTORNE Y8 struction the stairs MILTON MURRAY, or WILLIAMS WHARF, VIRGINIA.

MAKE-AND-BREAK IGNITION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1922.

Application filed October 28, 1920, Serial No. 420,248. Renewed April 10, 1922. Serial No; 551,211

more particularly to the make and break devices primarily used in connection with marine engines, my object being the pro vision of certain improvements whereby the spark points may be adjusted without the difficultiesordinarily experienced in this operation.

A still further object is the provision of novel ,means permitting of screw adjustment of the oscillating rocker rod of an accepted type of make and break ignition device in order to avoid the necessity of refiling oi' the rocker rod at eachadjusting operation, made necessary by theconstruction as at present used.

My invention is in particular an improvement in the tappet controlled spring actuated rocker arm which is attached to the rocker rod carrying the movable contact point and which in the usual construction is of one piece formation with a set screw threaded therethrough to clamp the same on the rocker rod. In the ordinary conrocker rod is cylindrical throughout and in order to provide for effective grip of the rocker rod by the set screw of the rocker arm it is commonly filed to provide a flat surface, and it becomes quite obvious that in subsequent r0- tative adjustmentso'f the rocker rod ,it is necessary to re-file the same at a different angle in providing a new surface for grip by the set screw. tions, it is a common disadvantage that the set screw loosens, permitting relative movement in action between the rocker arm and rocker rod which obviously destroys proper functioning of the parts.

According to my invention the rocker rod. is slotted or filed in the first instance one portion and Even with these precauand need not thereafter be re-filed, the

' rocker arm being in. two parts, one of which trates' my invention and't'orms a part of this rod,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the rocker, rod with its 'movable contact, removed,

' igure 6 is'a detail perspective view of of my improved rocker arm,

l perspective view of theother part thereof.

Referring now to these figures I have shown an ignition block generally at 10, having the usual stationary and. movable contacts 11 and 12 upon its rear or inner cylinder, entering 1 portion, the block as a whole being attached to the cylinder by' bolts and the like passing through openings 13. The movable contact 12 vibrates into and out of engagement with'the stationary contact 11 in operation and is for this purpose as well as for .the'purpose of adjustment, that is proper spacing in the gap position, carried upon the free end of the inner angular extension 14 of a rocker'rod 15, which is journaled I, through the igni- Figure 7 is a detai tion block 10 as best seen in Figure 3 and wardly on the rocker arm and thus force the latter downwardly agalnst the ad acent surface of bracket 16.

That portion of the rocker rod 15 between the outer surface of the ignition block 10 and the bearing portion of the bracket 16 is reduced to provide a flat surface 20, either by filing, slotting, planing and the like, leaving a partially cylindrical surface which is movably seated in a concave recess 21 in the inner face of one part 22 of my improved rocker arm, which part 22 has an apertured extension 23 through which the tappet rod 17 extends and upon which the tappet rod collar 18 bears. This, the upper part of the rocker arm, has at its opposite end a spring engaging recess 24 which receives one end of the contact making spring 25 the function of which is to shift the movable contact 12 into engagement with the stationary contact 11 when the tappet rod 1'7 is elevated. This part 22 of the rocker arm is also provided with lower obtusely angular surfaces 26 and 27 at opposite sides of its concave recess 21 and has threaded openings therethrough as seen at 28 and 29 extending through the angular surfaces 26 and 27 to receive ad justing screws 30 and 31.

The other part of the rocker arm, indicated at 32 and shown in detail in Figure 7 has a flat inner face opposing the concave recess 21 and angular surfaces 26 and 27 of the part 22 so that it is thus adapted to engage the reduced flattened portion 20 ofthe rocker rod. Tie part 32 is also provided with openings 33 and 3 1 adjacent to its opposite ends, which openings may be slotted and receive therethrough the headed ends of the adjusting screws 30 and 31, the heads of which, bearing against the outer surface of the part 32 adjacent to its opposite ends, function to permit of a rocking adjustment of part 32 with respect to part 22, and in this adjustment it will be noted that, as the fiat inner surface of part 82 engages the flat surface 20 of the rocker rod and rotative movement of the latter is permitted in the concave recess 21 of the part 22, rocking ad-- justment of the rod 15 will naturally follow along with rocking adjustment of the part 32 of the rocker arm.

My invention thus provides for ready adjustment of the rocker rod 15 to correct the spacing of the stationary and movable contacts 11 and 12, as the latter wear in operation, without removing the rocker rod from its normal position as shown. If the contacts are to be spaced farther apart adjusting screw 30 is loosened and, adjusting screw 31 is tightened, while if the contacts are to be adjusted closer together adjusting screw 31 is loosened and adjusting screw 30 is tightened. I

In the ordinary structure the rocker arm is in one piece, with a set screw threaded through a portion thereof and engaging a tiled flattened surface of the rocker rod. and it is quite obvious that for the purpose of adjusting the contact points it becomes necessary to remove the rocker rod and refile its flattened set screw engaging surface at a slightly different angle depending upon whether the contacts are to be spaced farther apart or closer together.

My improved rocker arm can be applied in the place of the ordinary rocker arm without trouble and need not thereafter be removed nor need the rocker rod 15 be removed in so far as adjustment of the contact points is concerned.

It is well known that in operation the tappet rod 1'? is elevated by wiping contact of a lever with its lower end, its upward movement being against the tension of the spring 19. Upon this upward movement of the tappet rod the contact making spring 25 anchored on the ignition block at one end and engaging the free end of the rocker arm, causes rocking movement of the rocker arm which results in movement of the movable contact 12 into engagement with the stationary contact 11. As the tappet rod is released and descends under tension of spring 19, its collar engages the apertured extension 23 of the rocker arm and forces thelatter downwardly on to the bracket 16 against the tension of spring 25, and during this movement the rocker arm causes shifti movement of the movable contact away from the stationary contact.

I claim:

ljln a make and break ignition device including stationary and movable contacts and a rocker rod which carries the movable contact, a tappet controlled and spring actuated rocker arm including two parts one of which has a rocking adjustment with respect to the other and has a flat surface engaging a flattened surface of the rocker rod, and means to adjust the rocking part of the arm with respect to the other part and secure the same in adjusted position.

2. In a make and break ignition device having stationary and movable contacts and having a rocker rod supporting the movable contact and provided with a reduced flattened portioin a movable rocker arm includ ing two parts, one of which has a concave bearing groove for the rocker rod and has inclined surfaces at opposite sides of the groove, and the other of which parts has a flat face opposing the inclined surfaces and engaging the flattened surface of the rocker rod, and means to adjust and hold the last named part of the rocker arm in connection with the first named part thereof.

3. In a make and break ignition device having stationary and movable contacts and having a rocker rod supporting the movable contact and provided with a reduced fiat- 'tened portion, a movable rocker arm includrod and means to adjust and hold the last named part of the rocker arm in connection 10 with the first named part thereof, said means including adjusting screws extenda ing loosely through opposite ends of the adgusting part of the rocker arm and threaded into the other part thereof as described.

MILTON MURRAY. 

